A foraging trip outdoors starts the holidays off right. It’s a sure-fire way to pick some holiday spirit, and an even better way to save your money for gifts for your loved ones rather than spending it on decor.

Combine your store-bought sparkle with nature’s bounty for beautiful decorations that don’t break the bank. Low- to no-cost natural elements are the perfect addition to your decoration collection for decorating the mantle, tabletop and tree.

Turn collecting natural goodies into a scavenger hunt with the kids. Gather various sizes of pinecones, acorns, bare branches, evergreens and berries. If you don’t have any evergreens outside, you can stop anywhere fresh Christmas trees are sold and get the discarded lower branches for a low cost, or possibly for free. These work just fine to cut up for decorations. Finally, add in goodies from the grocery store like apples, popcorn, cranberries or citrus fruits. Now you’ve got the recipe for a pretty holiday home. It’s time to start decorating!

Nature on Display

Start with what you already own. Clear vases or jars, cake stands, baskets and plates turn into decorations with a bit of creativity.

Create an ornament display that is sure to become a focal point. Collect bare branches and dig into your ornament collection. Tying the baubles on bare limbs makes them stand out and really come to life. Do something as simple as these red balls on one branch, or collect several branches to place in a row of jars. You could even get a large multi-limbed branch to stand in a large floor vase.

You can also fill glass containers with pinecones and acorns. Add a bit of glam by dusting them with glitter or fake snow. Try tucking a few tiny ornaments in the glass container, too—look for a really interesting one to highlight, such as a tiny pair of ice skates or a darling little Santa.

Holiday Arrangement

Create a floral-shop worthy display with a combination of your natural found items and produce. This wonderfully scented decoration is easy to make. Gather up apples, oranges, whole cloves, pinecones and greenery. Select a container—a basket or bowl will work.

Begin by pushing the cloves into the oranges in any pattern you like. If your basket or bowl is very deep, stuff the bottom of it with some balls of paper. First, set in your oranges, toward the center. Arrange pinecones and apples around the oranges. Cut small pieces of greenery and tuck them in between the fruit to hide gaps or any paper that shows. Finish by accenting here and there with a bit of something bright. You can add a few tiny ornaments, colorful cranberries, sprigs of holly or a dusting of fake snow.

Tabletop Centerpiece

A low centerpiece is just the ticket for holiday dinners because you want to be able to see over it and enjoy conversations with family and friends. You can make a beautiful, simple one with your natural collection and some shiny ornament balls.

Collect pinecones, fall leaves, greenery, ornaments and a bit of paint. Check your paint stash for holiday shades of gold, silver, white, copper or red. Choose one you think compliments your ornaments. Paint the fall leaves and a few pinecones and allow the paint to dry. Leave some of the pinecones natural.

Use a flat plate or tray to hold your centerpiece. Snip evergreens in small pieces and arrange flat to cover the plate or tray. Arrange large pinecones in the center and then add the ornaments to the plate. Tuck tiny pinecones and the painted leaves around the large cones and balls.

Let It Shine

Holiday parties and family gatherings are a celebration and celebrations call for candles. Natural elements can come into play with candles. Here are a few ideas:

Place a few cranberries and snips of greenery in a jar. Add water and drop a floating candle in the top. Add glamour by nestling them in some shiny bead garland or silvery icicles.

Place fresh cranberries in a tall vase. Nestle a candle into the berries. Tie a pretty ribbon around the vase.

Arrange three to five tiny votive candles on a plate with a rim. Surround them with fresh cranberries, whole nuts and acorns.

Strings of Fun

Generations of families have enjoyed stringing popcorn on thread to decorate their tree. While you can certainly do just popcorn, it’s fun to give it a glamourous touch, like adding shiny gold jingle bells or a small ornament every so often. Don’t stop with just popcorn – you can string cranberries and even gummy candies!

After the holidays are over, don’t toss out the strings of popcorn and berries. Hang them on bushes in the yard and enjoy watching the birds have a winter feast.

It has been way too long since I made and shared a DIY wreath project with you all. That is why I am a super stoked about today’s simple, cheap tutorial – a gorgeous gilded wreath to adorn your front door. You are going to need just a few supplies and an hour to create your very own. Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES:

Plastic or foam pumpkins and gourds (I got mine for 50% off at Michaels)

Begin by laying out your pumpkins on the drop cloth. This project is best done outside since you will be spray painting.

Spray pumpkins per instructions on can. Make sure you are using paint that has primer in it. If not, you will need to prime the pieces first. I love Krylon Dual because it has paint and primer in one. It is my go to product for spray painting.

Now for the wreath form. I showed you how to make your own from cardboard in this DIY Poinsettia Wreath tutorial. For this project, I wrapped the cardboard wreath form in duct tape for durability since I planned to hang the wreath outdoors.

Before attaching the painted, dry pumpkins, place the ribbon around the wreath. Hot glue it into place, then begin attaching pumpkins.

It’s as easy as that!

TIP: For more cohesiveness, once all the pumpkins are in place, use the same spray paint to spray the wreath form where it is visible in the spaces.

It is one of the best things about fall and the holiday season, a great source of potassium and Vitamin A, and is over 90% water. What is it, you ask? We are talking about pumpkin! Today we are sharing over 50 tasty pumpkin recipes for you to enjoy. You will see pumpkin soup, scones and everything in between. If we missed your favorite pumpkin recipe, leave us a link in the comments so we can share your delicious creation!

Today I am sharing with you this free printable shell speciment art trio I created, using images I found in an early 1920’s flea market book. Mine are framed in Dollar Tree shadow boxes that came matted to fit 5×7 inch images. Who knew you could get such a thing for a mere dollar? I was pleasantly surprised! You really can’t beat this $3 instant wall art deal. Get your downloads and spruce up your decor, coastal style.

To access the full resolution versions of the above thumbnail images: right click the image, then download or print the full res version that pops up in a new browser.

Stay tuned for a tutorial on how to scan images from old books and use them to create art prints in Photoshop! Not all books are public domain. Find out about what is o.k. to use in this great article: Public Domain Frequently Asked Questions. Keep your eyes peeled for old books on your junking and thrifting adventures for books published prior to 1923, and examine them for cool images to use in your graphic design projects!

Valentine’s Day is behind us, and Easter is rapidly approaching. Today, we are excited to share our favorite free printables with an Easter theme. You will find bunnies, scripture, flowers, eggs and crosses galore. Refresh those ink cartridges and get ready to spring-ify your crafts and decor, without hurting your pocketbook! As always, if you have a great Easter printable that we missed, leave us a link in the comments so we can include you!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of At Home for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

It is already December! Are you ready for holiday entertaining? I have to admit, we are not. We just got the keys to our new Colorado home on Tuesday. We’ve spent the last 6 months in corporate housing, which was basically like a hotel. Bring your clothes and toiletries and get comfy. Moving from Indiana, we got rid of 80% of our belongings, so we are starting fresh! There is a lot to be done in the way of home furnishings and decor around here, which is why I am so grateful to have discovered At Home Christmas Decor and more. Today I am focusing on holiday decor specifically, but that store has it all, and the prices are unbeatable.

When we first looked at this house before landing on a decision, this little nook caught my eye as a place I knew I’d have fun decorating! Think of the potential. It will be my go to spot for showcasing each season and holiday with a themed vignette.

My only complaint about At Home is that I seriously have a hard time narrowing things down with the 15 decorative themes of Christmas Decor.

Snowcapped Scene is my favorite. That is the reindeer I chose for my winter vignette, as well as the candle holder. I love the owls and St. Nicholas figures too. They are a matte, chalky distressed finish with metallic underneath. So pretty!

I couldn’t resist these aged gold bells either. You will find them in the Heaven on Earth themed section, along with other beautiful, gilded gold decor.

Now we get to talk about my favorite finds from this At Home trip! This wreath is so beautiful, and you won’t believe the price! I found mercury glass monogram ornaments for under $3 and displayed one in the center of the wreath, as you can see. The wood background is also from At Home, in their ridiculously huge and wonderful wall decor section. The barrel display table, you ask? Got it there too! I found a small one, seen here, and a larger one which I bought for a side table in our new living room. So cool! I love the combo of wood and rusty, galvanized metal.

I also found the distressed white medallion pictured here, knowing it would complete the scene perfectly!

My next stop? The Tree for Me area, where there are Christmas Trees to fit every style! We are entertaining here soon, and what holiday party is worthwhile absent a Christmas tree? We will be all decorated for the holidays, indoors and out, with the help of At Home. We may not have shower curtains or a coffee table before that happens, but we can get those there too!

Thanks for visiting. Be sure to stop by At Home’s inspiration gallery and let us know your favorite style or piece!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of At Home for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I recently shared with you At Home Christmas Decor, the one-stop-shop for you to decorate you whole house this Christmas– every single room! At Home offers a total holiday solution for every home, with their unmatched assortment of both indoor and outdoor décor items for Christmas.

As I shared previously, the Christmas and holiday decor is featured in fifteen decorative themes, to fit every style and taste.

We decided to snatch up their everyday low priced decor to create a Christmas wonderland table scape!

Using a combination of the Crystal Chateau and Snowcapped Scene decor themes, as well as candles and candle holders from At Home, we created a lovely, wintery holiday vignette for a super low price!

We can’t wait to have company for the holidays this year! With all the money we saved on decor, dinner will be quite the spread. Not only that, but we are in a new space, which will be hitting up At Home to decorate in general. The great prices and stylish decor are not just for the holidays at this store. If you haven’t been there, you are in for a treat!

This post is brought to you by Plaid and Blueprint Social. All opinions are my own.

It is the most wonderful time of the year, and that means hands everywhere are covered in glitter and Mod Podge. Mine are no different. Yours shouldn’t be either. I am here to help you out with that by sharing how to make these beautiful graphic holiday ornaments in just a few simple steps. Personalize them as great gifts and keepsake ornaments for your friends and loved ones that will be cherished for years to come. But wait, there is more…other awesome things about this project are the fact that it is super inexpensive to create, and features Plaid’s new Mod Podge Pearl formula!

Tear letter out by hand to leave feathered borders (as opposed to cutting with scissors).

Paint entire ornament with a layer of pearl Mod Podge, place letter, then paint a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the tissue paper. Take care not to rip the monogram.Hang ornament to air dry. Add another coat of pearl finish Mod Podge and let dry.

That’s it! Do you love the pearl finish? Of course you do. It is elegant with an aged feel. It looks great with the glittery gold and silver metallic finishes too.

I am in summer project mode, and am sharing with you my favorite beach inspired decor and craft ideas from my creative cohorts. Ahhh, the beach! When you can’t get there for real, going coastal with your home decor is the next best thing. If we missed your project, leave a link in the comments. Enjoy!